Alternative input methods for Android handsets?

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dpw

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#60640 29-Apr-2010 13:35

Has anyone tried anything other than the default builtin keyboards? At the moment I am trying ShapeWriter - it works pretty darn well so far. There was however a slightly worrying warning at the start, something about the app being able to potentially harvest keystrokes. I guess that applies to any input apps out there...

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NZtechfreak

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#324706 29-Apr-2010 13:45

I have an apk for Swype, which I hear is better than Shapewriter despite only being in beta.

I forget which website ran the article, but there was a round up of different keyboards a few weeks back.

I take you have the HTC_IME keyboard installed with Voice-to-Text?

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dpw

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#324713 29-Apr-2010 14:07

I take you have the HTC_IME keyboard installed with Voice-to-Text?

I'm not sure about the Voice-to-Text thing - I previously used the bog standard QWERTY keyboard that came with the Desire

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Oncop53

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#324714 29-Apr-2010 14:11

I used shapewriter for a while, but found it a bit annoying. Looking at the persissions it doesn't have net access so I dont think it could send a keylog anywhere:

android.permission.READ_CONTACTS

android.permission.READ_USER_DICTIONARY

android.permission.VIBRATE

android.permission.WRITE_SETTINGS

http://www.androidzoom.com/android_applications/tools/shapewriter-keyboard_fsl.html

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#324731 29-Apr-2010 14:36

Checkout http://nimbu.amorvi.com/ to find the keyboard with Googles voice-to-text input :)

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stevenz

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#327048 5-May-2010 19:10

I use Smart Keyboard. It has the voice-dictation option, a learning dictionary and lots of other goodies. The Pro version is about $5ish, worth it I thought.

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Linuxluver

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#327424 6-May-2010 16:02

I tried Shapewriter on my HTC Magic.

My fingers were too big to properly see where I sweeping my finger...and the IME itself was a bit hungry on CPU.

I have not tried it on the Nexus One. It may not support the 480x800 resolution. I'll have to find out.

I also tried Talk-to-me keyboard, but found I rarely am in a position to use voice either for privacy reasons or I don't want to disturb people around me by prattling at my phone.....and the Nexus One has voice input anyway.

I've tried Better Keyboard, but found it slightly less responsive than the default keyboard...so dropped it, too.

I've kept coming back to the default keyboard. On the Nexus One, with larger keys on the larger screen most of my fat-finger issues have disappeared. The keys are now big enough to hit with a high degree of accuracy - especially if the phone is held landscape and you type with two thumbs.,

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AndrewTD

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#327438 6-May-2010 16:26

Linuxluver: I tried Shapewriter on my HTC Magic.

My fingers were too big to properly see where I sweeping my finger...and the IME itself was a bit hungry on CPU.

I have not tried it on the Nexus One. It may not support the 480x800 resolution. I'll have to find out.

I also tried Talk-to-me keyboard, but found I rarely am in a position to use voice either for privacy reasons or I don't want to disturb people around me by prattling at my phone.....and the Nexus One has voice input anyway.

I've tried Better Keyboard, but found it slightly less responsive than the default keyboard...so dropped it, too.

I've kept coming back to the default keyboard. On the Nexus One, with larger keys on the larger screen most of my fat-finger issues have disappeared. The keys are now big enough to hit with a high degree of accuracy - especially if the phone is held landscape and you type with two thumbs.,

So what did you think was the best kbd app to use on the HTC Magic? I find the std kbd on my HTC Magic to be not that great - doesn't seem to work in landscape mode, and is just generally nowhere near as good as the physical kbd I was used to on my old Palm Treo 650.

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Linuxluver

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#327567 6-May-2010 22:10

AndrewTD:
So what did you think was the best kbd app to use on the HTC Magic? I find the std kbd on my HTC Magic to be not that great - doesn't seem to work in landscape mode, and is just generally nowhere near as good as the physical kbd I was used to on my old Palm Treo 650.

The only times I felt I had a better option than the standard keyboard on the magic were:

1. "Better Keyboard" with the "Palm Pre" skin.

2. The HTC IME from the HTC Hero installed either by itself or on a Hero ROM ported to HTC Magic. It has a key calibration routine that actually seems to work. "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.".....or something similar.

If you check XDA Developers, you may be able to find a thread for locating and installing the HTC keyboard "HTC IME" that comes with the Hero and Legend. It's a popular keyboard. I have a ROM on my Acer Liquid that has included it as the default. Android is Android. :-)

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lchiu7

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#328065 8-May-2010 22:05

I use Swype on the N1 all the time. The latest beta supports the N1 just fine. The only issue so far I have found is, the speak to text option is enabled everywhere. There is no mic icon that is on the keyboard so you need to press the menu button to get the mic icon and that only works in SMS - not in normal text mode.

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